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What: Phoenix Suns at New York Knicks
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
When: 5:30PM AZ Time
Watch: Fox Sports AZ, NBA League Pass
The Suns are 2-11 in this calendar year, and last won a road game on December 7th at Chicago, so we can probably assume they won't win tonight, but winning is no longer the point for this season's Suns.
With the season lost at 14-33, and a rash of injuries, the Suns have been left with no option but to fully invest in their youth movement. Devin Booker, TJ Warren, Archie Goodwin and Alex Len have been the beneficiaries, playing plenty of minutes, showing flashes of promise, and bringing home loss after meaningless loss.
Meanwhile, the Knicks (22-26) are still fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference behind an improved roster featuring a rejuvenated Carmelo Anthony and spectacular rookie big man Kristaps Porzingis. Neither played last night, and the Knicks are on a four game slide, currently sitting 3 games back of the #8 seed in the East.
Porzingis is the story in New York this season. Drafted in June at #4 overall to much controversy, and expected to be a long-term project, the 7'3" Latvian has been a revelation so far, looking like a budding superstar in averaging 14 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game as a 20 year old PF. He missed last night's game with an illness, so we'll have to wait on his status for tonight.
If Porzingis can go, it will be interesting to watch his matchup with Alex Len, forced into duty at PF due to injuries and now starting there regularly. Otherwise, the Suns young guard tandem of Goodwin and Booker will be the main thing to watch, along with the rapid fire scoring of Warren.
Also to watch for: Former Suns Robin Lopez and Lou Amundson play for the Knicks, as does former Laker and Goran Dragic arch-nemesis Sasha Vujacic. If any one of these guys is a key to a Knicks win tonight, it would perfectly fit the tone of this Suns season.
Ray's pick: Knicks more points, Suns fewer.
Update: 4:17PM MST
Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis are available. Jose Calderon is out, according to the Knicks.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) January 29, 2016